Chapter 10: One Wish Is All It Takes PART TWO
Normal POV:
"Tsuki, double the support on that boulder, it'll probably fall if the rain is heavier this year," Blitz ordered.
"Roger that!" Tsuki bounded over to the cliff that was a few yards out away from the edge of the town.
Blitz turned and continued to give orders to the soldiers and other magic casters on reinforcing the area around the small town they're in which was situated in a small valley between two mountains.
Around this time there'd be heavy rains in most part of the mountains so the towns or villages have to ensure that their homes were protected enough from anything that may be washed down from the mountains by the water.
Since one of the queen's good healer friend lives in the town Blitz was sent out here to help out the town.
"Prince! The food is ready!" Mirai waved from one of the homes.
Blitz waved back before turning to the working soldiers. "Finish up with the things you're doing right now, the rest can wait till tomorrow, we cannot see much in this dark."
Blitz made his way over to Mirai when Tsuki ran back to his side, the three teens entered the little cosy home which belonged to the healer that is the queen's friend.
"My prince, thank you so much for coming all this way just to help this little town in the middle of nowhere," the small healer smiled, her blue eyes closed from her smile. Her long orange hair that had streaks of grey in it was tied up in the big bun; some glittery beads that was laced in her hair glittered from the light lit up by the lanterns all around the room and the fire a big pot cooked over.
"It's nothing Dreamcatcher-san," Blitz rested a hand on his chest and gave a little bow. "It's normal to help out the ones that once saved your life before."
"Oh you," the healer patted the boy with white hair – a slight grey tint to the strands – as she walked pass him. "How could I refuse to heal you when you were such an adorable child?" Picking up a bowl she started scooping in the soup from the pot over the fireplace. "I know these are just commoner food but you always eat them whenever you come over."
"Of course," Blitz chuckled as he took the bowl that was handed to him. "Whatever you put in their always help with boosting my magic capacity."
"Oh-ho, you noticed," Dreamcatcher grinned, handing out bowls to the other two girls. "If you children want, you can take the tunnel just outside the back that leads to the mountaintop and eat there. If I'm correct then you might be able to catch sight of a few shooting stars."
"You're joking!" Tsuki gasped, getting all excited. "How do you know?"
"Of course she knows," Blitz scowled before turning back to the elder woman, "We'll go."
After each grabbing a bread and pear the three teens made a mad dash for the tunnel – being careful not to spill any soup from the bowl in their other hand. Once they entered it they were lifted up right to the mountaintop by a magic circle which Dreamcatcher obviously set.
The three had settled on a flat surface that they found and ate their food in a relaxing silence while star gazing. The lights from the little town below couldn't really reach the spot they sat at so they had an amazing view of the star filled Rainbow Way. Just like its name the Rainbow Way is filled with the seven colours of the rainbow along with shining white stars that spilled across the dark sky.
Note: Rainbow Way (the Milky Way of their universe)
The three teens had long finished their meal but continued star gazing, completely trance into a relaxed state.
Blitz and Tsuki ended up laying on their backs to look up at the sky while Mirai leaned back on her arms.
A tiny flash of white caught Blitz's eye.
"There!" shooting up into a sitting position Blitz crossed his legs and pointed to where he saw the light.
"Where?!" Tsuki has also sat up and along with Mirai the two girls tried to see the star the boy pointed out.
But where there wasn't anything happening Blitz slowly lowered his hand, eyes not leaving the sky. "Oh well, I guess it's gone."
A slow streak of light suddenly came out of nowhere and splashed through the other stars, outshining them with a bright white radiance that explosions out like blossoms as it continued along its path.
"Oh my gosh, it's a slow one!" Tsuki exclaimed.
Mirai's eyes widened, "Quick, make a wish!"
Blitz blinked as he watched the two girls screw their eyes shut and clasp their hands together, he glanced up at the shooting star that was still traveling along in the dark sky before looking back at the girls.
Tsuki's hands even trembled a bit as she mumbled inaudible words.
Blitz looked up at the moving star again, admiring its glowing beauty one last time before he slowly closed his eyes, mimicking the two girls by his side he clasped his hands together and wished. His head lowered as he frowned in concentration, hands tightening as he wish, over and over the same single wish.
"Prince."
The whitish-blue eyed boy looked up just in time to spot the tail of the shooting star disappear.
"What did you wish for?" Tsuki leaned over as she and Mirai both stared at the prince.
"What?" Blitz raised an eyebrow and grinned. "You think I'll tell you? It won't come true if I tell you."
"You really believe in that kind of stuff?" Mirai teased. "I wished to become stronger, so that I could protect my people more."
"Me too!" Tsuki high fived the aquamarine eyed girl.
Mirai looked back at their prince. "And you?"
Blitz's grin widened. "I wished to meet the most beautiful siren to hear her sing."
The prince's two female fighters reeled back in shock while yelling out loud 'What?!'s that echoed in the air.
"Did you seriously wish for that?!" Mirai asked with wide eyes.
"What's wrong with that?" the grin never left Blitz's lips as he gave an exaggerated shrug. "That's every man's dream."
"Is not!" both girls shouted at the same time.
"I can't believe you! You're so stupid. Who in their right mind would do that?!" Tsuki pulled at her hair in frustration.
"You're dead serious?" Mirai leaned in and rest a hand on Blitz's shoulder.
The blue eyed boy only closed his eyes and stuck out his tongue a little bit in response.
"Aaaaargh!" Tsuki started rolling on the ground, messing her hair up as she pulled them.
"You're hopeless you know that right?" Mirai sighed.
But Blitz only laughed as he stood up, dusting off his clothes he picked up his bowl. "C'mon, let's get going. We'll stay the night here. It's too far from the palace."
The two girls only groaned as they got up and starting making their way back.
Blitz chuckled as he watched them stroll away. He looked up back at the sky. His grin dropped into a tired sigh, his wish ran through his head.
'Please let this war end…'
...
The air was still in the palace's secret garden, the snow storm was blocked out by a magic barrier yet the barrier allows small snowflakes through, allowing gentle flowing flakes of white to flatter onto to the plants within the garden, covering the place in a thin sheet of beautiful white that seems to glitter under the dark sky from the outside.
Beast looked up at the sky, seeing the blurs of white of the snow storm still raging outside the magic barrier.
They call this garden a secret garden even though it's not a secret anymore, because this once was the place the Ice Queen always loved to visit. It was a private garden only a few was allowed to enter, even the Beast and his parents most trusted bodyguards hardly enter there. Yet the garden is opened to many one single day each year for the memorial ever since the Queen's passing.
"Prince, it'll be your turn next," Frost whispered into the silver haired boy's ear.
Beast focused his attention on his father as he walked over to the ox-bow-shaped lake in the middle of the garden with a few servants and knight by his side.
The Ice King held up both his hands together as a huge icy snowflake the size of a man's torso formed a few centimetres above his hands. Every branch of the snowflake had intricate designs and patterns etched in it that can rival the most skilled craftsmen in the land; every swirl and shape was created with care.
In the Kingdom of Ice one's level can be seen by the snowflakes they create, the snowflakes they create are like the patterns on one's finger. One's snowflake can change over time depending on their growth ranging from their rank or status in society, the mental growth or their power/magic growth.
Looking at the Ice King's snowflake it's obvious why he is the king. Being one of the most powerful men in the kingdom the snowflake he created in unmatchable. This was probably one reason why no one dares challenges the king's place. Beast wasn't sure if the other kingdoms also have these kinds of unique features in their element or not.
Everyone watched as one of the maids carefully placed a lantern atop the centre of the snowflake. The lantern too was crafted out with ice with patterns as detailed as the snowflake, since the lantern was carved by the king himself. A soft magical flame was lit in the lantern so that it doesn't melt the ice but still glowed with warmth until the end of the night.
No one noticed but Beast certainly did: the tiniest change on the very centre of his father's snowflake. Where the 8-sided star was in the centre, Beast could see three of the legs of the star were a bit longer than the rest. Usually his father's centre 8-sided star were a prefect symmetrical symbol.
The Ice King slowly placed the snowflake with the lantern onto the surface of the crystal blue lake, giving it the tiniest push to not disturb the water too much before standing up and backing away.
The Ice King watched the lantern float further into the lake before turning meet the purple eyes of his son. Beast held his breath when he saw a hint of mourn in his usually strict father's eyes.
"Prince," Frost gave him the tiny nudge, "It's your turn."
Beast gulped before stepping forward. He slowly walked towards the lakeside; his boots make tiny crunching sound as they met the thin layer of snow of the ground. He is painfully aware of all the eyes on him from all the royals, nobles and servants in the garden.
Beast gave his father glance when he passed him, which the king gave a small nod in response.
He stopped at the edge of the lake and cupped his hands together. Beast let out a soft exhale of breath, small white vapours escaping from between his lips from the cold. Focusing on the small tingling feeling on his fingertips he slowly opened his hands. Misty blue and white icy dusts that were floating around his hands gradually formed into a pure white snowflake with light streaks of the palest light blue and purple. But unlike the Ice King's, Beast's snowflake was only the size of his palm, it was still decorated with the most exhaustive designs, but the silver haired boy could hear the nobles murmuring among themselves. Picking up a few of the murmurs it was obvious that they judged the size of his snowflake.
Beast ignored them as Frost placed a small simple white candle on top of the snowflake.
More murmurs started sounding among the onlookers as Beast places the snowflake and candle onto the water, pushing it so that it goes towards the direction his father's lantern was in.
Beast didn't bother looking at the nobles that was mumbling among themselves and stayed passive as he turned to face his father.
The Icy King stared at the flickering candle that floated over to his lantern. The King gave Beast another nod before turning and walking away.
Beast looked back at his candle. A small smile graced his lips since he know by the end of the night the small hand written message fused into the candle will burn away at the end of the night, message delivered.
Beast stepped away from the side of the lake to allow the rest of the people to pay their respect with their own preferred light and the snowflakes they created.
"Nice touch you added there," a deep voice said behind Beast.
Beast turned and quickly gave a swift bow. "Y-your Majesty." A blush threatened to crawl up his neck as Beast greeted his father properly.
The Ice King was looking at his candle, the yellow flame had a bit of purple in the middle, indicating the prince's magic in it. "You always added little things to it. You could have made a bigger snowflake though; I know that's not your limit."
Beast gulped, sweating a bit since the king was an intimidating man. "I-I understand. But Her Majesty had always liked the smaller ones…"
"Just make sure that the nobles are aware of your true powers," the king state blankly, narrowing his eyes at the noblemen, "So that they won't have any funny ideas…"
"Yes Your Majesty," Beast bowed with a hand over his chest, the other behind his back.
"Good," the king turned and sauntered away, his servants followed. But he stopped abruptly. "One and one more thing," he looked over his shoulder, "Next time make sure you're here earlier. Today's behaviour shall not be repeated."
"Yes Your Majesty!" Beast bowed lower. Frost who was behind him also voiced out his apology.
Without another word the king stalked away.
Beast let out a heavy sigh as he straightened up. "He still blames me for mother's death," he mumbled softly.
"There's no such thing my prince," Frost assured, leading the boy away to the outskirts of the garden.
"It is true though," Beast sat down on one of the benches, Frost had cleared away the snow that fell on the wooden seat. "If I had not done that before mother would not have had to come after me…..I just wanted to sort things out without having to have a fight break out…"
"It's really not your fault," Frost bent down a little and rested a hand on the silver-haired boy's shoulder. "It was the other kingdom's fault for attacking."
Beast looked up with a deep frown. "When I was the one trespassing?"
Frost straightened up, retreated both hands behind his back. "You were young back then, you didn't know better."
"But I did," Beast argued softly, "I knew the risks yet I–"
"The queen loves you," Frost interrupted, "She loves you very much. The king too, even when he doesn't show it."
"You are just trying to comfort me…" Beast muttered, looking away, head lowered into his chest. "I do not need it…sorry."
"I think you just need some time alone. It is your mother's memorial after all." With a bow Frost excused himself and left Beast alone at the deserted side of the garden.
After a good few minutes of staring at his lap Beast finally looked up at the people who were still setting out lights on the lake.
Beast let out a sigh as he remembered a few of the students in his class was fighting today.
Flashback~
"Do you really think I'll forget what you did?" one of the girls from the Kingdom of Fire hissed at another boy from the Wind. "My uncle died because of your spear falling from the sky!"
"Not my problem." The Fire boy snorted.
"Bastard!" the girl leaped towards the boy but Beast caught sight of one of the girls from his kingdom jumping in.
"Stop it! You shouldn't fight–" a blast of light hit the girl in her face.
Explosion of wind blasted through the room.
"No!" Beast cried as he watched the girl from his kingdom fall to the ground. Blood trickling down her face especially from her eye.
Beast rushed forwards and picked up the girl, he turned and his eyes met with one of the boys from his palace. "Go and tell the nurse to prepare her equipment! I will take her there as fast as I can!"
The boy ran ahead as Beast ran out the class, the girl limp in his arms. The last thing Beast heard were the flapping of wing of the gargoyles flying into the classroom from the outside.
~Flashback end
The girl was a daughter of one of the nobles that was close friends with the queen before she passed away. The girl lost one of her eye and will have a permanent scar on her face. The blow was strong for the intention to injure a sever wound but the attacker had tried to withdraw the attack when she was interrupted but was too late to pull back the spell.
Beast blamed himself for what happened to the girl. He was there yet he didn't save her in time. He was the prince! Compared to others he had more trained power yet he couldn't help her. The event heavily reminded him with the incident with his mother all those years ago.
'I was too weak to do anything. Too weak! I could not do anything to stop the fight…'
Beast growled softly. His eyes catching the sight of his small candle among the big luxurious looking lanterns floating around it set out by all the others. Making his candle look small and pathetic.
'Mother what can I do?' Beast shut his eyes with a frown.
'How do I stop this war?'
…
"Tsume I swear to god if you sold me out I'll kill you!" the second prince of the Wind Kingdom screamed. Skidding down the side of the slanted roof he jumped and landed on a ledge of a brick balcony before he could fully fall off the side of the palace.
Bloodfang, or better known as Kiva, slammed open the glass window doors of the room, stomping into the large room.
An older grinning boy stood a few feet away from him. "What in heavens are you talking about?" Tsume faked ignorance.
"You told Lotus I'm coming back late didn't you?" Kiva strides up and grabbed a fistful of Tsume's shirt, wrinkling the white fabric. "I even made sure I stayed out extra late so I didn't have to see her!"
"You shouldn't say those like of things," Tsume whispered.
"So you're purposely avoiding me?" a voice came from the doorway of Tsume's room.
Kiva's face paled as the two boys turned to face the duke's daughter.
"Kill me right now," Kiva facepalmed.
"Oh my darling, we finally meet again!" Lotus rushed forward to give Kiva a hug but the boy leaped back, holding up a hand he stopped the girl in her track.
"No! Don't hug me," Kiva added just to not offend the girl, "Err– not right now…I'm still in my uniform."
"Oh you," the girl giggled, before spinning around, her huge dress spinning out. "How do I look?"
Lotus's long pinkish-white hair is braided up with multiple designs, kept in place by silver hair pins and jewels; a few strands of hair loose to frame her face. The front of her pink dress is a low cut one to show off her collar bone and a little bit to boast about her perfect bosoms, the low cut collar met the pair of sleeves that went to her elbows, the end of the sleeves are tied into a closed end so that it's not a loose sleeve end. She had a designed dark brown outside corset around her midsection (which is the thing that's pushing up and holding her breasts in place). Silver designed adored the dress as the dress layers were layered carefully to not over-do the look. She wore some fingerless lace gloves and also a loose choker with small dainty rhinestone. The makeup on her face didn't look too forced but since Kiva knows she have quite a few beauty specks over her face he knows she had put on some heavy layers to hide them. For a final touch Lotus even added a little painted design on the temple side of her left eye with a few sparkling gems glued on.
Kiva admits to himself that Lotus looks good. Compared to other nobles or royals her outfit is sort of simple and only enhances her natural beauty.
"You look good I guess," Kiva muttered, looking away a bit.
"Huh? What did you say?" Lotus stepped forward and leaned in extremely close to the white haired prince. "You were mumbling I couldn't hear."
Kiva recoiled back without stepping away. With the way Lotus leaned into him his eyes darted down to her chest before snapping away as he turned his head away. "I said you look good."
Lotus giggled and hugged him, completely forgetting what he said about not hugging him earlier.
Lotus grabbed his hand and started dragging him out the room. "Let's go for a walk!"
"No, Lotus. I'm not even out of my school uniform!" Kiva protested as he looked back at Tsume, pleaded him for help with his eyes.
But Tsume only chuckled and gave him a wave as he was dragged off.
Kiva wore a scowl as he and Lotus sat in a room situated at one of the highest tower in the palace. Since Kiva refused to go on a stroll in the garden with Lotus they ended up there. It was a room where Kiva kept all his previous things and where he repairs his own hang-gliders. No one was allowed to enter yet Lotus always forces her way in.
"Heeeeeey darling, it's too boring here, why didn't we go for a walk? I waited so long for you and you don't spend time with me, I'm staying the night so you may as well spent time with me," Lotus whined, having to sit around and only watch as Kiva ignored her and continued to sketch inside his design book.
"Do you realize how tired I am?" Kiva grumbled. He couldn't draw out any energy to put on his charming grin he has on most majority on the time. "And why are you even calling me 'darling'?"
Pulling the book out of his hands Lotus smiled down at him. "Because you're my betrothed!"
Kiva's eyes widened as he shot up, snatching his sketch book back. "No I'm not!"
"Yes you are," Lotus continued to smile as she stared up at him. "You're the heir and I'm going to marry the next king. That's what your father said."
"I told him I won't be king if I have to marry you!" Kiva stated, "Do you even realise what a queen has to do?"
"Of course I do!" Lotus stood up and crossed her arms, puffing up her cheeks. "I have to make sure the people are happy."
"And how are you going to do that?" Kiva challenged.
Lotus stomped the ground. "Oh you know! Make sure things are the same the whole time; those kind of stuff! You're the one who's going to be king, isn't the kind the one who deals with those stuff? My main job is to make sure that you have an heir and that the royal line goes on!"
"You really think that?!" Kiva snapped, his patience with the pinkish-white haired girl ran out. "You think being a queen means you just live the rest of your life doing nothing but enjoying yourself? That's exactly why you cannot be queen. You don't care about your people or kingdom. Heck, you don't even know what's going on around you!"
"How dare you…what do you mean by that?!" Lotus screamed, jabbing a finger at his chest.
Kiva shoved her hand away and pointed outside the open window where moonlight streamed in. "Look outside and tell me what you see."
Her arms crossed again she glanced outside. "Oh I know what you're trying to do. I see our city, our people. Having a perfectly FINE and PEACEFUL evening."
"And beyond that?"
"Other places of our land, the people of our kingdom!" Lotus snapped, "Everyone is fine okay! You're here, spending your time arguing with me so it means there isn't a battle happening somewhere, our kingdom is safe!"
"We. Are. Not." Kiva glared into Lotus's pink eyes, his own dark grey ones seems to darken to black with fury. "Because we're not safe yet. Not when there are only enemies beyond our borders and us being flanked by two different kingdoms, not to mention the Water Kingdom is on our side of the ocean."
Kiva turned and stalked over to the window, looking out, his eyes gleamed from the moonlight. "You don't know anything Lotus Breezedrop. Being protected your whole life and not seeing the suffering of our people. You'll never truly understand what this war does to people."
Kiva threw Lotus one last angry glare before he stepped onto the windowsill.
"What are you doing?!" Lotus's voice cried but Kiva ignored her and started climbing up the side of the wall next to the window with the help of the vines there.
"No I'm sorry Kiva, please come back!" Lotus was leaning out the window as she watched the Wind prince continue his way up the wall of the tower.
"Selfish woman…no she's not even a woman, selfish girl," Kiva was muttering curses to himself the whole time as he made his way up, soon he reached the end of the vine but he put his fingers in the cracks in some part of the wall. Having climbing up there so many times in the past he knows which cracks are safe enough to handle his weight.
"She only cares about herself, does she think everything in this world revolves around her?"
He reached the very top of the tower where the cone shaped roof which had part of its tip cut off so that there's a platform, in the centre of the platform a pole was cemented into the surface.
"Maybe I should just throw her out onto a battle field for an experience…no it'll be a jackass move on my part since she doesn't know how to fight."
Kiva pulled himself onto the small platform and gripped the pole, looking up at the flag of his kingdom held high by the pole and fluttering in the breeze.
"Does she think this is all fun and games, who does she think I'm fighting for?" Kiva hissed, swinging his head around, "I'm fighting for this flipping–"
Kiva broke off.
The breeze picked up big wind as his white hair is blown back. He closed an eye, his free hand coming up to shield the other as he waited for the waft of wind to pass.
His fringes fell back over his forehead and his hair went back to gently swaying in the never ending breeze of the Wind climate. Kiva lowered the hand that shielded his eye and looked out at the city that stretched out over the land below him.
Kiva's eyes widened. A smile slowly spread across his lips as he let out a small huff.
Twinkles of light scattered over the city from the homes and buildings. The city was in the dark but not dark to the point of black since it's illuminated by the bright moon overhead. In the sky there were no clouds in sight to block the view of the stars.
All Kiva could hear is the peacefulness of the quiet city and the sound of the breezes.
It's nothing too extraordinary about the view, it's not like Kiva haven't seen this sight before. In fact Kiva comes up there a lot.
But it's exactly because of this unchanging view that made him happy.
"That's right…" Kiva's half-closed his eyes as he chuckled to himself. "I'm fighting for this. My people. This peace for the land."
Kiva looked up at the sky. He took a deep breath and threw his head back. "Please! Somehow, let this peace last! For not just me but for everyone on this land!
"Please let this war come to an end!"
….
A loud ringing suddenly sounded in six boy's ears, jolting their bodies back as pain shot through their brain.
"Argh!" hand/s simultaneously shot up to their ear/s.
"Prince Brick!" Airy gasped. The redhead had suddenly shoved her away and covered both his ears, deep frown on his face as he glared at the ground between them.
"What the hell?!" Butch had fallen to his knees, right hand covered his ear as the other punched the ground as the pain still coursed through his head.
Takaaki gripped his brother's shoulder. "Boomer, what's wrong?!" Takaaki frowned as he watched the younger blond tremble slightly as he shook his head, hands over his ears.
"My head…" Blitz growled, stumbling a bit. Mirai and Tsuki was on both his side, preventing him from falling over.
Beast let out a whimper as he leaned down a bit to curl into himself, hands still tightly clasped over his ears. "….It hurts."
They suddenly jolted again and looked up with surprise.
Bloodfang (Kiva) lowered his hand from his ear, a look of pure confusion on his face. "It stopped…"
The ringing in their heads slowly left behind a soft vibration sound. Soft murmured words echoed in their ears as they all fell into a strangely quiet state.
Words spilled out of their mouths naturally without them even realizing it as they repeated the whispers that echoed in their heads.
"Kore ikeru as'karai ta mokre'i angel koru."
…
Oh my gosh. By the time I got to Kiva I just wanted to get this chapter done with so I'm sorry if his part seems a bit rushed. I was hoping to make his scene when he looked out at his city a bit more detailed, I'll probably rewrite it in the future.
I actually really enjoyed writing about Lotus, since her type of character is usually written as a woman who thinks she's the most beautiful person when they're far from it. Lotus is actually one of the most beautiful women in the Wind Kingdom and she dresses in a way that complements her beauty. I didn't want her to be the typical pink that shows her femininity but to be the first colour that comes to my mind when I think of lotus is a pale pinkish colour or pink edged white, thus her hair ended up as pinkish-white.
I loved writing these two chapters 'One Wish Is All It Takes', tell me which scenes you guys like the most.
Oh and also please tell me your thoughts on Lotus and the type of first impression you have of her.
Thank you
~Blackrose in the Moonlight